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R. c. BROWN M2285 TRESTLE Filed Feb. 14, 1958 Patented Oct. 4, 1938 'rnEs'rLE Robert C. Brown, Columbus, Ohio, assigner to Du-All Scaii'old Bracket Company, Columbus,

Ohio

Application February 14, 1938, Serial No. 190,487

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a trestle. The invention has for its object to provide, in

a manner as hereinafter set forth, a trestle including a ledger board and a supporting structure for and interengaging with the board, and with the latter and the supporting structure being so related whereby the more weight on the board, the tighter the supporting structure binds against the board to- -prevent the displacement of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a ledger board and a supporting structure for and having abutting engagement with the board and with meansv coacting withlthe supporting structure to cause the latter to bite into the board for keeping the trestle rigid without rocking.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, ina manner as hereinafter setforth, a trestle which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, including a ledger board and a supporting structure for and binding against the board and with the binding action between the structure and board automatically increased by the more weight onv the board, thoroughly efficient in its use, readily assembled, conveniently adjusted to provide for binding action between the supporting structure and the ledger board and inexpensive to manufacture; 30 Embodying the objects aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more Vspeciiically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention. but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modiiications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the'invention as claimed.

40 Y In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a trestle in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation looking towards one end of the trestle,

Figure 3l is a section on line 3 3 Figure 1 Figure 4 is a section on line 5 4 Figure 3, and

Figure v5 is a section on line 5 5- Figure 2.

' The trestle includes a pair of head elements l', a ledger board 2- for positioning in the head elements, two pair of legs 3, with the legs of each pair disposed at an inclination towards each other from their lower ends, and a pair of adjusting devices 4 one for each head.

The ledger board is in the form of an oblong plank 5 disposed on one of its lengthwise edges and has the end terminal portions thereof mounted in and extended laterally from the heads I.

The heads l are of like for-m and the description of one will apply to the other. Each head i consists of a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding h-ollow supporting members or elements l, 'l of like form. Each head member includes an upstanding inclined cuter wall 3 which inclines inwardly from its lower to its upper end, and a pair of upstanding vertical side walls 9, le. Each side wall increases in width from its upper to its lower end and has the lower portion of its inner edge provided with an inwardly extending iiange ll. The upper portion I2 of each side wall has an I5 inset inner edge portion i3. Each supporting member includes a horizontal topwall Ill formed on its inner edge with a row of teeth I5 which extend inwardly with respect to the upper end of the edge portion I3. The walls 8, 9, I@ and I4 are formed integral with each other. Each supporting member is open at its inner side. The anges II of the side walls of the head member align and have their top edges I6 provide seats I6 for the' edge l'l of the ledger board 2. The flanges I I of each head member are formed with aligned openings IB. The supporting members 'of each head element constitute combined holders, receivers, abutments and couplers for the upper end terminal portions I9 of a pair of legs 3 30 and a combined clamp and sustainer for an end terminal portion of the board 2. Owing to the inclination of the outer walls 8, when a head element is in position with respect to a pair of legs it disposes the latter at opposite inclinations. When the head element is positioned relative to a pair of legs 3, the legs abut the inner faces of the outer walls 8 of the element and also the walls I4 and in this connection attention is directed to Figure 3. v

Each head element includes means for hinging the supporting members 6, I thereof together. The said means consists of an inverted cup shaped member 2li arranged between walls 9, Ill of the said members', l and bridges the space formed between the iianges on the member 6 and the ilangeson the member l. The bridging member 2li is arranged below the seats I1 provided by the flanges l I. The bridging member 20 is formed with openings 2l which align with the openings I8. -Pivot bolts 22 extend through the aligned openings i8, 2I and are connected to the members l. When a head element is arranged relative to the upper terminal portions of a pair of legs 3, these latter pass between the ends of the 55 bridging member 2U and the outer walls 8 of the supporting members 6, 1.

The adjusting device 4 includes a vertical bolt 23 having its head 24 integral with the inner face of the top of the bridging member 20. Loosely mounted on the bolt 23 is an apertured spreader 25 formed with oppositely outwardly inclined depending flanges 26 which abut the inner sides of the pair of legs when these latter are connected together by a head element. Carried by the bolt 22 below the spreader 26 is a winged adjusted nut 2l which functions to move the spreader 25 upwardly whereby the bit of the teeth I in the side faces of the board 2 will be increased. The spreader 25 also constitutes a brace for a pair of legs 3 when the latter are assembled relatively to a head element.

When mounting the ledger board relative to the head elements, the supporting members of the' head elements are swung open to allow for the board to be positioned therebetween and to be arranged on the seats I1. The legs are arranged in the head elements before these latter are opened to receive the board 2. After the board 2 has been positioned, the device 4 is adjusted to cause the teeth I5 to engage in the side faces of the board and which provides, in connection with the spreader and supporting members a rigid structure.

Each of the members 6, l has its wall 9 formed on its inner side with an outwardly directed flange 28 and its wall I0 formed on its inner side with an outwardly directed flange 29. The ilanges 28, 29 on the members 6 align in spaced relation with the flanges 28, 29 for the members 1. The said flanges 28, 29 abut against the side faces of the board 2 and act as a bracing means therefor.

What I claim is:

l. In a trestle, a pair of spaced aligned upstanding supporting structures, each structure formed of a pair of oppositely disposed spaced hollow head elements of like form for supporting therebetween an end portion of a ledger board and oppositely disposed laterally adjustable legs extending into the pair of elements for supporting them, each of said elements being open at rear and at its bottom and consisting of an upwardly extending inwardly inclined front wall, a

pair of side walls increasing in width from top to bottom thereof and a horizontally disposed top wall integral with the upper ends of the front and side walls and having a part extended inwardly from the upper ends ofthe inner edges of the side walls, the extended parts of said top walls being toothed for engaging in opposite sides of the ledger board, the side walls of each element of a pair being formed at their lower portions with inwardly directed flanges, the flanges on the side walls of the elements of a pair coacting to form split supports for the ledger board, a bridging member arranged between the flanges of each pair of elements, pivot means extending through the flanges of one element of a pair and a member for hinging them together, and pivot means extending through the anges of the other element of the pair and such member for hinging them together. I

2. In a trestle, a pair of spaced aligned upstanding supporting structures, each structure formed of a pair of oppositely disposed spaced hollow head elements of 'like form for supporting vtherebetween an end portion of a ledger board and oppositely disposed laterally adjustable legs extending into the pair of elements for supporting them, each of said elements being open at rear and at its bottom and consisting of an upwardly extending inwardly inclined front wall, a pair of side walls increasing in width from top to bottom thereof and a horizontally disposed top wall integral with the upper ends of the front and side walls and having a part extended inwardly from the upper ends of the inner edges of the side walls, the extended parts of said top walls being toothed for engaging in opposite sides of the ledger board, the side walls of each element of a pair being formed at their lower portions with inwardly directed flanges, the flanges on the side walls of said elements coacting to form split supports for the ledger board, a bridging member arranged between the flanges of the elements of a pair, pivot means extending through the flanges of one element of a pair and a member for hinging them together, pivot means extending through the flanges of the other element of the pair and such member for hinging them together, and leg adjustable means suspended from said bridging members and including vertically movable spreaders below the bridging members and engageable with the rear surfaces of the pairs of legs for adjusting the legs ofeach pair of legs simultaneously in lateral relation to increase the bite of the teeth into the ledger board.

3. In a trestle, a pair of spaced aligned upstanding supporting structures, each structure formed of a pair of oppositely disposed spaced hollow head elements of like form for supporting therebetween an end portion of a ledger board and oppositely disposed laterally adjustable legs extending into the pair of elements for supporting them, each of said elements being open at rear and at its bottom and consisting of an upwardly extending inwardly inclined front wall, a pair of side walls increasing in width from top to bottom thereof and a horizontally disposed top wall integral with the upper ends of the front and side walls and having a part extended inwardly from the upper ends of the inner edges of the side Walls, the extended parts of said top walls being toothed for engaging in opposite sides of the ledger board, the side walls of each element being formed at their lower portions with inwardly directed anges, the flanges on the side walls of said elements coacting to form split sup-l ports for the ledger board, a bridging member arranged between the flanges of each pair of said elements, pivot means extending through the flanges of one element of a pair and a member for hinging them together, pivot means extending through the anges of the other element of the pair and such member for hinging them together, a threaded bolt depending from each of said members and disposed between apair of legs, a spreader mounted on each bolt and bearing against the inner faces of a pair of legs, and vertically adjustable means threadedly engaging with the bolts below the spreaders and acting, when adjusted upwardly to elevate the spreader whereby the legs will be spread in a direction to cause an increase bite of the teeth in the ledger board.

ROBERT C. BROWN. 

